Thank you to universities, colleges and Students' Unions, throughout the UK for hosting me and embracing the annual inclusive BRIT Challenge.

THANK YOU

I'm sincerely grateful to Universities UK , Universities Wales , Universities Scotland , AMOSSHE, The Student Services Organisation , GuildHE , Independent Higher Education , London Higher , Association of Colleges , Colleges Scotland , ColegauCymru | CollegesWales , National Association for Managers of Student Services , Sport Wales , sportscotland , Natspec , Scottish Student Sport , ParalympicsGB and Team GB for championing the annual BRIT Challenge that is taking place between the 23rd January and 23rd March 2023 to support and improve young adult, student, and staff, mental health, fitness and wellbeing throughout the UK.

BRIT does not employ any staff and the success of the BRIT Challenge would not be possible without the support of so many Sport and Education Governing Bodies, Charities and the students and staff at so many universities and colleges who are volunteering, and gifting their time, to be part of the BRIT family.

Over the past 6 months it has been an absolute pleasure to have visited, and engaged with, over 300 universities and colleges throughout the UK and meet their Leadership Teams, Staff and Students. Physical visits have strengthened existing relationships, forged new ones and provided the opportunity to meet face to face post-pandemic. I have been humbled with the insights and lived experience surrounding the mental health challenges faced by students and staff; I feel privileged to be trusted with this information as it is vital to understand the mental health, fitness and wellbeing challenges faced by young adults, students, and staff, locally, regionally and nationally. Feedback from students and staff is integral to the development of the British Inspiration Trust (BRIT) and the annual BRIT Challenge.

THE BRIT CHALLENGE - COORDINATION

Registration for the BRIT Challenge is open and there is still time for every UK university, college specialist college and Students' Union to enter teams and plan their activities.

I’d be delighted to join on a Teams Call if any institution needs me to and provide key staff and students with an introduction to the BRIT Challenge, join Q&As, share Hints and Tips, and deliver talks on Mental Health, Disability and Inclusivity to their Coordination Teams and fellow students and staff.

The most successful results have been when a BRIT Challenge Coordination Group includes;

• Students' Union Presidents or Vice-Presidents?(for student engagement)
• University or College Leadership Team Representatives (with Vice-Chancellors and College Principals completing the first mile of their BRIT Challenge with students)
• HR (for staff wellbeing and engagement)
• University or College Student Engagement/Enrichment Coordinators
• Wellbeing/Student Services
• Sport
• Communications

Please don’t hesitate to call or email if you have any questions regarding the BRIT Challenge or I can help your team in any way.?

BRIT CHALLENGE ACTIVITY

Universities and Colleges are taking on the BRIT Challenge to complement existing plans and activities in a variety of ways;

• Completing their BRIT Challenge over 23 days.
• Setting a 23,000 or 2,023 mile/kilometre team distance challenge and also encouraging 23 minutes of wellbeing activity including dance, movement, meditation, colouring, drawing and knitting; any activity that improves mental health and brings students and staff together.
• Involving every campus and department by challenging them to compete as teams (with an internal leader board showing the highest percentage of students and staff participating).
• Every student and staff member completing a mile for mental health and wellbeing or being encouraged to take 23 minutes a day to take part in an activity.
• 23 acts of kindness in the community over 23 days (for example students studying skills such as construction and hairdressing where they can gift projects or treatments to the community).

Many universities are intending to embrace University Mental Health Day in their plans and many colleges have shared that they are intending to use their BRIT Challenge activity as evidence for Ofsted and GOOD FOR ME GOOD FOR FE.

A FEEL GOOD FUNDRAISER

The givestar Fundraising Platform is proving popular to enable institutions to raise funds for BRIT or to raise funds for one of our 12 charity partners ( Adferiad , The Charlie Waller Trust , Climbing Out , Dame Kelly Holmes Trust , LimbPower , MindOut - LGBTQ Mental Health Service , Nightline Association , PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide , Samaritans , SAMH , Sporting Memories and Student Minds ), or local charities, alongside BRIT.?

Approaching local businesses or contractors to support fundraising efforts by match-funding what students and staff raise is also proving popular; especially with the cost of living and the challenges around fundraising.?

REGISTRATION FOR THE BRIT CHALLENGE

Should you decide to embrace the BRIT Challenge,?registration?is just to let us know you are taking on the BRIT Challenge and, once I know universities and colleges are taking part, can then reach out to our BRIT Ambassadors to see who can support their chosen or local institutions. There is a How To Take Part PDF on the BRIT Challenge website, which I hope will be of use, and there are also examples of how students and staff at universities and colleges throughout the UK are taking on the BRIT Challenge between 23rd?January and 23rd?March 2023.

INVITATION FOR BOTH STAFF MEMBER AND STUDENT REPRESENTATION ON THE BRIT REGIONAL STEERING GROUPS

There is also a form where universities and colleges can register interest (student and staff opportunities) for the?BRIT Regional Steering Groups?(this also asks permission to share contact details with the Chair and Co-Chair).

The BRIT Regional Steering Groups are an initiative to facilitate a collaborative and proactive student, and staff, network, to share best practice, provide opportunities to champion innovative mental health strategies and discuss ways to improve mental health both regionally and nationally. The Regional Steering Groups will;

• Provide a forum for students and staff to share both their activity and fundraising successes when taking on the BRIT Challenge
• Enable the annual BRIT Challenge to act as a catalyst to involve the student body in meaningful mental health promotion throughout our feelgood fundraiser and the year ahead?
• Establish a student network that can share best practice of university and college mental health provision and support?
• Facilitate a collaborative fellowship of students and staff that can direct a cohesive approach to supporting and improving young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK.

REQUEST TO SHARE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE PART

Please do share the opportunities to participate in the annual BRIT Challenge and join the BRIT Regional Steering Groups in order to grow this annual feel good fundraiser in support of young adult, student and staff mental health, fitness and wellbeing, help to destigmatise mental health and champion equality, diversity and inclusion.

Over 250 universities and colleges embraced BRIT Challenges during the pandemic and this year almost 150 have already registered to take part.

It would be tremendous if those universities and colleges that have yet to register do so now and take part between 1st March and 23rd March and complete their BRIT Challenge activity over 23 days.

With best wishes,

Phil

Prof. Sir Steve West CBE, DL Alistair Jarvis CBE Vivienne Stern John de Pury Elizabeth Treasure Alastair Sim John Bloomfield Darren de Souza Anna Zvagule Peter Bonfield Angellique Woolery Angela Halston David Hughes Dean Hardman Jen Hope Shona Struthers Joanne Buchan MCIPR Dave Hagendyk Andy Johns Rob Baynham Polly Harrow Clare Howard OBE Brian Davies OBE Pippa Britton OBE PLY Tanni Grey-Thompson Kate McCheyne Stew Fowlie Helene Raynsford Nick Webborn CBE DL Scott Field Anna Scott-Marshall Tim Hollingsworth OBE Dame Kelly Holmes Shane Chowen FE Week FE News Times Higher Education Louisa Clarence-Smith Branwen Jeffreys Peter Bearne

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